Hammer and damper springs for piano actions



E. E. BUSER HAMMER AND DAMPER SPRINGS FOR PIANO ACTIONS Nqv. 13-,- 19z3,v 1,473,608

Filed June 9, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT 0R WITNESSES Ep g f E, ,BU561 Z BY W HIS ATTOEZVEI' V 1,473,608 E. E. BusER HAMMER AND DAMPERSPRINGS FOR PIANO ACTIONS Nov. 13 1923.

Filed June 9. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE'NTOE wn'gz I Ernest E B11681B2" I; l l I I I 9: H16 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

1,473,608 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. BUSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAMMER AND DAMPER SPRINGS FOR PIANO ACTIONS.

Application filed June 9, 1922. Serial No. 566,928,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, ERNEST E. BUSER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHammer and Damper Springs for Piano Actions, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to piano actions and more specially to hammer anddamper springs.

The object of the invention is to provide springs for the hammers anddampers of piano actions which can be readily attached, and which do notrequire dismantling of the parts.

In the drawings,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upper portionof a piano with the improvement applied to the piano action,

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the damper railwith the device app-lied, and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

In piano actions, the springs which hold the dampers against and thehammers away I from the strings, are permanently affixed to the hammerand damper rails, respectively. When these springs break, it isnecessary to dismount and replace the damper and its flange in order torenew the damper spring, and to remove portions of the broken springsbefore replacement can be made. Thus, replacements are accomplished withmuch difficulty.

t is therefore the purpose of the present invention to provide hammerand damper springs and attaching means therefor adapted to be applied tothe damper rail to hold the dampers against and the hammers away fromthe strings and to obviate the necessity of detaching the par ts of thepiano action in replacing broken springs.

In illustrating the application of the invention, a piano 10 is shownand it is un derstood that this term comprehends automatic playerpianos. The keyboard is designated at 11 on which the keys 12 arepivoted to actuate the lifter bar 13. 14 is the whip pen pivoted to thehammer rail 15 and bearlng the arm 16 engaging the lower arm of thedamper bar 17 pivoted to the flange 18 secured by a screw or otherfastening means asdesignated at 19 to the top edge of the hammer rail15. Thedamper bar 17 has on its upper end a shank 20 on which the damper21 is mounted and adapted to be normally held against the strings, oneof by the usual spring-pressed striker 26 and cooperating with the usualspring stop 27, t1e 28 and wire 29. The damper rail is designated at 30and the hammer check at31.

The damper bar 17 is usuallyengaged at its upper end by a spring carriedby the flange 18 to hold the damper 21 against the string and the hammeris held away from the string by a spring secured to a rabbeted lowerportion of the damper rail 30. In accordance with the present'invention,there is provided a substantially inverted U-shaped clip 32 preferablyof spring metal to fit over and grip the damper rail 30. Theintermediate or bight portion 83 of the clip is disposed at the top ofthe damperrail and the leg portion 34: is longer than the leg portion35, the former engaging the felt 36 at the back and the latter engagingthe front of the damper rail and terminating at the rabbeted portion 37.

Secured to the leg portion 34L near the lower end thereof as indicatedat 38 is a spring strip 89 which is disposed against the leg portion fora short distance, then extends upwardly and rearwardly and terminates ina vertical portion 40 adapted to engagethe damper at the shank portion20 of the bar 17 beneath the head of the damper 21'. This spring holdsthe damper toward the string 22.

Secured to the leg portion 35 is a forwardl and u owardl 7 curveds rin11 referabl .largement 25 of the hammer rail and hold the hammer awayfrom the string 22. The device is equally applicable to newconstructions or replacements.

I/Vhile I have described my invention as taking a particular form, itwill be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changedwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set. forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a hammer railsupporting a hammer and a damper, and a damper rail, of removable meanson the damper rail, and springs secured to the removable means forengaging the hammer and damper.

2. The combination with a hammer rail supporting a hammer and a damper,and a damper rail, of a clip on the damper rail, and springs secured tothe clip for engaging the hammer and damper.

3. The combination with a hammer rail supporting a hammer and a damper,and a damper rail, of a U-shaped spring clip on the damper rail; aspring secured to one leg of the clip for engaging the hammer, and aspring secured to the other leg of the clip for engaging the damper.

4. The combination with a hammer rail supporting a hammer and a damper,and a damper rail, of a U-shaped spring clip on the damper rail; adownwardly extending spring secured to one leg of: the clip for engagingthe hammer, and an upwardly extending spring secured to the other leg ofthe clip for engaging the damper.

5. A spring clip adapted for use with a hammer and damper of a pianoaction; a spring secured to one end of the clip for engaging thehami'ner, and a spring secured to the other end for engaging the damper.

6. A spring clip of U-shape; a downwardly extending spring secured toone leg of the clip for engaging the hammer, and an upwardly extendingspring secured to the other leg of the clip for engaging the danr per.

7. A spring clip of U-shape; a downward- 1y extending wire springsecured to one leg of the clip for engaging the hammer, and a upwardlyextendin flat strip spring secured to the other leg of the clip forengaging the damper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST E. BUSER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. Boson. CHAS. E. Po'rrs.

